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Come celebrate 30 years of Sand, Sun, Art and Music!

The 30th Annual American SandSculpting Championship is returning with even more activities, more vendors, and more sculptures to see in 2016!

Make your plans to come to Fort Myers Beach and come join us for one of our most exciting events yet. With Sand, Sun, Art and Music, the American Sand Sculpting Championships 30th Anniversary promises to meet and exceed all expectations!

Join jolly pirates, wenches, corsairs and beauties as they make camp and prepare for battle on the edge of the Historic Seaport District of Old San Carlos. The swashbuckling fun doesn’t stop for a moment during the Columbus Day weekend celebration.

Named the #2 Pirate Festival in the Country by USA Today, this family-friendly event attracts thousands of people that come to enjoy the pirate bazaar, themed live music and performances, exhilarating live ship battles, children’s activities and the jolly pub quest (21+ event).

Pirates and landlubbers both young and old are sure to walk away with memories to treasure.

Southwest Florida offers a variety of outdoor activities. Kayaking the area provides a first- hand vantage point of the unmatched beauty of our aquatic ecosystems. There are such diverse paddles available ranging from pristine beaches, mangrove swamps, freshwater rivers and creeks, the adventures seem endless. Not only does kayaking provide a direct connection with nature it is an effective, low impact workout that is excellent for your core and upper body.

I would like to highlight a beautiful short day paddle that only takes half a day. Lovers Key to Mound Key Archaeological State Park in Estero Bay is just under a 5 mile round trip paddle. The launch for this trip begins at Carl E. Johnson boat ramp directly across from Lovers Key State Park. The bay is very scenic with numerous opportunities for viewing birds and other wildlife like manatee and dolphin. By paddling the suggested route two unique views of the islands of the bay can be experienced.

Paddling route from Lovers Key to Mound Key

The halfway point of the trip is Mound Key. Believed to be the capital of the Calusa Indians, the island’s shell mounds reach heights of 30 feet. The self-guided hiking trail starts at the northwest and southeast sides of the island under canopies of cabbage palms and gumbo limbo trees. The top of the mound provides a scenic view of the bay. This provides an excellent opportunity to stretch your legs before the return trip.

Estero Bay Scenic View

Exit from Mound Key looking south

About the author: Eric Lindner is an avid kayaker with extensive knowledge of Florida's ecosystems.Graduated University of Florida: Environmental SciencesOwner/operator: www.ecopaddlesportz.com

Get ready to hit the sand! The 28th Annual American Sand Sculpting Championship is coming back to Fort Myers Beach November 21 through 30, 2014, with more sculptures than ever before! Master sand sculptors will create their works of art on Fort Myers Beach, forming the largest sand sculpting event in the state with an all new layout! USA Today listed the event as one of the 10 best sand sculpting competitions and the Southeastern Tourism Society recognized the American Sand Sculpting Championship as a top 20 event of the entire southeastern United States!

4th Annual Pawsitively Amazing Pet Parade on October 18 at Santini Marina Plaza in Fort Myers Beach. Join the fun as pets and their owners attend the Pet Parade dressed in Howl’oween Costume and are judged. The event includes vendors with crafts, etc.

Fort Myers Beach – October 10-12, 2014

Ahoy mateys! Save the date Columbus Day Weekend for the Pirate Fest on Fort Myers Beach! Don’t miss this family friendly weekend of grub, grog and fun on Fort Myers Beach! Admission to the Fest is ABSOLUTELY FREE!

photo credit: fortmyersbeach.org

The Tale of the Fort Myers Beach Pirate Fest………

Only three years have passed since Lord Henry Hyde arrived here in the Port of Old San Carlos. The Crown dispatched the governor to ensure commerce runs smoothly in the Port, and under his direction all forms of enterprise have flourished, both legitimate and otherwise. They all pay the Governor’s taxes, one way or another. And so the Port has become a haven for the most notorious and flagrantly shameless pirates, privateers, and ne’er-do-wells. Most recently the notorious Captain Flood was left ashore by the mutinous Morgan Levy, and is looking for payback and the return of his ship, the Briar Rose. Flood now commands a small fleet, having built alliances with the captains of several vessels of war; the Black Pearl, the Pieces of Eight, and the Black Duck. He hopes to persuade the Lord Governor to allow him the use of the Port’s cannon batteries to retake his ship. A storm is brewing near the Port!

For years, Lovers Key was accessible only by boat and it was said that only lovers traveled to the island to enjoy its remote and solitary beach. Today, it is one of four barrier islands that make up this state park. A haven for wildlife, the islands and their waters are home to West Indian manatees, bottlenose dolphins, roseate spoonbills, marsh rabbits, and bald eagles. The two mile long beach is accessible by boardwalk or tram and is popular for shelling, swimming, picnicking, and sunbathing. Black Island has over five miles of multi-use trails for hiking and bicycling. Anglers and boaters can launch their vessels from the park’s boat ramp. The park’s concession offers kayak tours, as well as bicycle, canoe and kayak rentals. Located on County Road 865 between Fort Myers Beach and Bonita Beach in Lee County.

Click here to see the rest of USA Today’s top 5 most romantic beach picks.